I have a confession to make when it comes to listening skills. I’m an interrupter. When I already know what someone is trying to say, or I have a point to make, I just cut right in. I know I shouldn’t do it. I know it’s rude. It drives me crazy when other people do it, so why do I?

Most of us aren’t very good listeners. Interrupting may not be your Achilles heel, but I’m guessing there is some bad habit you bring to the listening side of your communication.

It is the recipient who communicates. The so-called communicator, the person who emits the communication does not communicate; he utters. Unless there is someone who listens, there is no communication. There is only noise. ~ Peter Drucker

This blog is all about improving your virtual listening skills.  Please watch the video with my colleague Michael Fraidenburg, an expert in running online meetings. 

The following is a short summary of the importance of improving active...

If you’re like most people, then you are not as self-aware of your body language, and the unintentional messages you are sending, as you should be.

We often do a pretty good job at noticing other peoples’ unintentional signals but in ourselves, not so much. Consequently, we make some common body language mistakes and often send the wrong message to others without even realizing it.

Why does that matter? Because your body language makes up over half of your total communication...